Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22
A PET PARROT.

Mics Elsie Bruce was walking down Ann
street. Just at a crossing a gentleman met ner'
aMiss Bruce!"
aNr. Weldon"
Then he was about to pass on. She paused
in a dilemma, for she had several rols oa
r,usic in her hand, and the crossing was Ter
ribly muddy. What a splendid prospect 1ol
bedraggled skirts! -n
R;ch Weldon saw her trouble. "Permit me,
he said. -.
She gave the music into his hand, and was
q banny woman again. Rich was very mucn
reioiced, glad to get an opportunity OF ASSIST.
ing Miss Bruce. After the crossing was passed
he did not ~relinquish the music, but continued
on by her side. MI.
Miss Elsie turned from Ann street to Pike
street. A block further up was her fathers :: 8
residence. "Please come in, Mr.. Weldon"
she said at the gate.
"Thank you; l believe I will go in Tor a
short time" he said.
Miss Elsie ushered him into the parlor.
Excuse me for a moment" she said. Sne
was gone but for a minute. As she was re-
turning there was a ring at the entrance. Sne
walked along the hall and opened the door,
not waiting for a ervant to do so. A tall
Young gentleman, with a handsome face and
figure, was standing outside. Elsie blushed q
little and bowed. The gentleman returned
her bow. In a moment Elsie had recovered
from her embarrassment.
"Docome in, Mr.. Montague" she said. She
took him to the parlor. AS she showed INN
in there was a ghttwinkle of mischief i'll her
ewes. The two gentlemen who were about to
meet were rivals, as she was quite confldent.
Further, rivals for the regard OF her
pretty self. They had never met before,
either, she was certain.
"Mr. Weldon, Mr.. Montague" she said
"Mr. Montague, Mr. Weldon"
Instinctively they bowed, a little distrust-
fully, to each other. A man does not feel
comfortable when he beholds q trespasser on
the peculiar domain that he hopes to call his
OWn.
For an hour or two the three sat and talked.
Their subjects are of no particular import
ance to this narrative. Any one can imagine
how heartily each of tho gentlemen wished
the other absent, so that tho subject OF con-
versation might be changed to something q
little more confidential. At length, by a
tacit understanding, they saw that they must
depart together on this occasion. We all
know that rivals never give way to each
other. Mr.. Weldon and Mr.. Montague arose,
therefore, at the same time, and, followed by
Miss Elsie. went out into the hall. AS it
CHANGED a pet parrot was hanging there In his
cage. Just US the hall door swung open be
shrieked:
"Call again, Mr.. Weldon!" Then before
the sound had died away a very similar IN
vitation ran out: Call again, Mr.. Mon
tague."
Miss Elsie laughed, blushcd and bowed the
gentlemen out. Then she returned to that
naughty parrot. .
"You wicked Varcor!" she cried, "aren't
you ashamed of yourselfg
kiss me, Elsic," said tho parrot, III q very
pleading tone.
80 you wicked Varcor, you shall hang here
no more," cried Elsie.
"Fie! Mr.. Montague" returned Varcor.
Elsie placed her hands to her ears and ran
away laughing. She found n servant and
said:
Take Varcor's cage and hang it up stairs
at the back window"
Then Elsie suddenly %bethought herself that
she had better do that herself. And she did,
keeping her hands upon her ears as long as
she could. However, she heard a mingled
muttering of couiical sentences.
Out on the street, Mr.. Weldon had walked
down toward the cast end of Pike street, and
Mr.. Montague up TOWARD the west end.
II shall call tomorrow afternoon" said Mr..
Weldon to himself, "and ask her to marry me-,
for l find that [ am desperately smitten."
Tomorrow night I shall come and tell
Elsie that l love her" thought Mr.. Montague,
"and ask her to be my wife,"
1t is singular, perhaps, how a prospect of
rivalry will hurry up men in some matters.
Punctual to time, on tho afternoon of the
next day Mr.. Weldon called again at the
Bruce residence. lie found Miss Elsie at
home.
ooh sramfnereu urpdthh a sNAl hera as Mn M Hsd=
ally do on such occasions, but finally man.
aged to state his case.
"Why, MI. Weldon, you astonish me: I
have never thought at all upon the subject.
and must havo time to consider"
"How much! Ito asked.
"Oh, a week"
MIR. Weldon groancd mentally. But the
was that he had to submit to delay. He
'ook his leave, and Elsie sat thinking. Some
low, as sho thought of his offer, the hand |
'ome face of Chester Montague came before
Ter mind.
II believe l could have answered this after
loon," she murmured; "why should l delav,n
'he left the question unanswered, however.
1t was $ O'Clock when Mr.. Montague made
is call on Pike street. He, too, was lucky
nough to find Miss Elsie at home. For an
our they talked on commonplace subjects.
u length the man reached the subject next
is heart.
Il love you Miss Elsie" he said: twill Won
my wife?" Elsie was silent.
lie took her hand, and his eyes met hers
I an instant her answer trembled on her
ps. Then, q woman-like idea entered her
ain.
Il will not be too easily won" she thoupht
'Mr. Montague, l will give you your an
yer IN q few days" she said aloud. ]
ana ne was TOO much of a gentleman to in.
on having it sooner than it pleased her IN
We it.
IL was the next morning that shorcalled her
pa lnto the parlor. Mr.. Bruce was - strict {
urch member-a little too strict in his doc- C
mes, perhaps, but a high-tcned, honorable II
IN. p
Papa" said Elsie, II have two offers Of =
'Humph" said Mr.. Bruce. "Well"
MI: Weldon and Mr.. Montague. Papa, l
mt your advice"
NY dear, Mr.. Weldon is my preference, de
has wealth, and can provide for you as =.
ur1ously as you have been accustomed to ~
;. Mr.: Montague has no great amount Of =
worlds ~goods-some, I admit; but still
Weldon far exceeds him in thai ,......v Il
But, papa!" wa
Well, my dear" IN
there are some arguments in favor Of Mr. -